10 Best Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row Alternatives for Home Gyms

The Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row is done standing. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Bodyweight Standing Row, London Bridges and the Barbell Reverse Grip Bent Over Row. Four harder versions, among them the Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel) and the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip One Arm Row, are listed below as progressions rather than swaps.

Bodyweight Standing Close-grip RowWatch the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row

Each substitute is scored on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. Read how we rank alternatives

How to Do the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row

The steps for the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row itself, so you can judge how close each substitute below really is.

Lats, with biceps, forearms · Bodyweight · Beginner · Compound

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
  2. Bend forward at the waist, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
  3. Extend your arms straight in front of you, gripping the bar or handles with a close grip.
  4. Pull the bar or handles towards your body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
  5. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement, then slowly release and return to the starting position.
  6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

The 10 Best Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Cards with a "How to perform it" link open to show the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page. Harder versions are tagged as progressions and kept out of the top spot even when they score higher.

  1. Bodyweight Standing RowPlay demonstration

    1. Bodyweight Standing Row

    96% match

    Lats · Beginner · Compound

    The same equipment, taken with an overhand grip.

    • Bodyweight
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
    2. Grasp a bar or handles with an overhand grip, palms facing down.
    3. Keep your back straight and core engaged.
    4. Pull the bar or handles towards your body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    5. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement.
    6. Slowly release and extend your arms back to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row
  2. Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel)Play demonstration

    Progression

    2. Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel)

    95% match

    Lats · Intermediate · Compound

    Pick this when you want a harder version that still works the lats.

    • Bodyweight
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a towel in front of you with both hands.
    2. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight.
    3. Pull the towel towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly release the tension and return to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row
  3. Bodyweight Standing Close-grip One Arm RowPlay demonstration

    Progression

    3. Bodyweight Standing Close-grip One Arm Row

    92% match

    Lats · Intermediate · Compound

    Pick this when you want a harder single-arm version that still works the lats.

    • Bodyweight
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hold a dumbbell in one hand with a neutral grip.
    2. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
    3. Pull the dumbbell up towards your chest, keeping your elbow close to your body and squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row
  6. Barbell Reverse Grip Bent Over RowPlay demonstration

    6. Barbell Reverse Grip Bent Over Row

    87% match

    Lats · Intermediate · Compound

    A good swap when you have a barbell to work with, and it still works the lats.

    • Barbell
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
    2. Hold a barbell with an overhand grip, palms facing down, and hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    3. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and chest up, until your torso is almost parallel to the floor.
    4. Pull the barbell towards your lower chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the barbell back to the starting position.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row
    • Equipment: free weights, not bodyweight only
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row

Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row FAQ

What muscles does Bodyweight Standing Close-grip Row work?

The exercise primarily targets the latissimus dorsi through shoulder extension and elbow adduction. It also activates the rhomboids, mid/lower trapezius for scapular retraction, the biceps for elbow flexion, and core muscles for torso stability.

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